Tiger vs Wolf

Tiger vs Wolf

I have just added a set to Flickr of an encounter between a male Bengal Tiger and an Indian Wolf. It was just a stand-off but clearly the tiger was in command.

The sequence was from an incredible morning in Bandhavgarh NP, India on 23rd March 2000. I believe the pair of Indian Wolves had a den close by as we had seen them on the previous few days at this particular spot. When the young male tiger appeared the wolves zig-zagged across the track behind it. One of the wolves followed it for some distance along the track provoking the tiger to turn around and face the wolf. The tiger only really had to make the simple gesture of turning around to disuade the wolf from getting any closer.

Thanks Roflcopters, cant believe this guy was sub adult when these where taken.

Incase anybody wanted to scale the size of the tiger to the wolfIndian wolves are generally 26'' s at the shoulder and 3' long, weigh around 60lbs.So, figure that is what your common Labrador or Wild Dog may look like, when standing next to a Tiger. Quite a monstrous species, indeed.

I read once ( not sure of which book now ) that the Siberian tiger has been know to eliminate every wolf from his respective domain by chasing them off and by killing some. In Siberia, if they are anything like the American timber wolf, they are not small wolves.

But Indian wolfs, have tight knit, family "packs"
At most, they have 6 members, who are usually a Pair and their offspring.
Maybe the Amur sees a Larger Wolf pack, as Competition, and like lions with hyena, they will go out of their way to kill them. Also, since Tigers are the superior hunter, maybe they have more success in riding themselves of wolfs, compared to lions with hyenas.
Just a theory, obviously.
I know Tigers hate Dholes, and have seen quite a few pics of Dead dholes, hanging from the jaws of a Tiger. And Dhole packs get up to 30-40 individuals I believe.